Worker Injured In Antioch After Fall From Commercial Building on Anita Avenue
Unsafe Premises - November 2, 2022
Maintenance Worker Injured In Antioch Accident After Falling From Commercial Building On The 800 Block of Anita Avenue
ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS (November 2, 2022) – A maintenance worker was seriously injured after falling almost 20 feet through a skylight of a commercial building in Antioch on Anita Avenue.
Lake County officials are saying that the accident took place on Saturday morning. A maintenance worker was completing work on the roof of a building when he fell through a skylight.
The worker fell nearly 20 feet before hitting the ground. Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident in order to help the victim.
He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Liability For Antioch Fall Accidents
Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death for workers in the United States. According to OSHA, “In 2020, there were 351 fatal falls to a lower level out of 1,008 construction fatalities (BLS data). These deaths are preventable.” A large number of these accidents involve workers that fall from scaffolds or roofs. There are many steps that should be taken to protect workers from fall hazards.
- Workers should have personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) when they are working at 6 feet or above from ground level.
- Workers should be trained to identify workplace hazards.
- Scaffolds and roofs should be periodically inspected.
Workers that are injured on the job in Illinois will typically have recourse through the state’s worker’s compensation system. Worker’s compensation in Illinois is based off of a no-fault insurance scheme. There is no need for an injured worker to demonstrate negligence in order to receive benefits for a workplace accident. However, an injured worker may also be able to seek damages through a third party liability claim.
A third party liability claim may be possible if any entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident. For example, a property owner could be liable for a worker’s injuries if their premises were in a dangerous condition. A general contractor could also potentially face liability for any worker that fell and was injured. There are number of steps that should be taken after any workplace accident.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Maintenance records should be examined.
Victims of workplace accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries. Many accident victims may not realize the full extent of their injuries for several weeks or months after they are injured. It can be difficult to know where to begin after any serious workplace accident. But it is important to remember that accident victims do have rights.
Investigating An Illinois Workplace Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the worker injured in this accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other accidents at this location. Worker safety should always be the number 1 priority of every company.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a workplace accident? Our team of worker’s rights advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that workers are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after any accident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
